Isolated-phase-switching apparatus



July 1, 1930. M. B. woon 1,769,563

ISOLATED PHASE SWI'l-CHING APPARATUS Filed-Aug. 1o, 1925 Patented July1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFicE MORRIS B. WOOD, OF SOMERVILLE,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO CONDIT ELECTRICALMANUFACTURING CORPORATION, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS ISOLATED-PHASE-SWITCHING APPARATUS Application led August10, 1925i. Serial No. 49,441.

This invention relates to isolated-phase distribution systems andswitching apparatus therein and is intended as an improvement on theinvention set forth in my copending application Serial No. 32,469, filedMay 23, 1925. y

The electric switches of a multi-phase system arranged forphase-isolation are usually disposed at considerable distances, or areremotely disposed, from each other. yThe switches are usuallymechanically inter-connected for conjoint operation by relatively longrods which extend between the switches.

Due to the relatively great length of the interconnecting rods betweenthe switches, the mechanism is greatly influenced by temperaturevariations and expands and contracts to suoli a degree that its actionis unreliable and that, at some times, the switches cannotbe moved intoand held in completely closed condition and that, at other times, theswitches open unexpectedly.

An object of this invention is the provision of switch-operating andinter-connecting mechanism so arranged that the switches can be closed,and held closed, and opened positively and conjointly, regardless ofvariations in the length Lof the inter-connecting mechanism due totemperature changes or othercauses. y

This object is attainedgenerally by having a lost motion connection andspecifically a toggle having relatively long toggle members, interposedbetween the'switch mechanisms and the interconnecting mechanisms and soarranged that the toggle may be permitted a certain freedom of movement,due to the expansion and contraction of the ,interconnecting mechanism,while the 'switches are closed, and without detrimentallyaffecting thecontact pressure between :y the fixed and movable switch members. Meansare preferably provided to lock the switches releasably in closedposition and the holding mechanism is arranged to permitthe aforesaidmovement of the toggles withoutreleasing the lock on the switches. n

yA further `object is generally to improve tlie construction andoperation of electric switches.

Fig. 1 is an elevation through a switchhouse arranged for phaseisolation and equipped with mechanically inter-connected electricswitches embodying the invention. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of one of the switchesof Fig. l and illustrating the disposition of the mechanism inswitch-closed position.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mechanism of Fig. 2 in switch-open position. Y

Fig. 4 is a detail of the side elevation il'- lustrating particularlythe holding and tripping mechanism for the switches.

As here shown, the invention is applied to the switches 10, each ofwhich is associatedwith a phase of a multi-phase distribution system,and the switches are contained in isolated compartments oi cells 12 andspaced a considerable distance from each other, or are remotelydisposed. rThe switches may be of any suitable type and are here shownas enclosed oilswitches, each of which is provided with an externalelectrically-actuated closing mechanism 14. The closing mechanisms ofthe switches may be identical and each may include a closing solenoid16. The plunger 18 of the solenoid yis arranged to actuate a pivotedlever 20 which engages an arm 22 fixed to an operating shaft 24. Theoperating shaft is connected, through suitable mechanism forming a partof this invention, with switch operating mechanism which' is enclosedwithin the switch casing and which includes ashaft 26 extended throughthe casing and an arm 28 fixed to the external end of said shaft. Theswitches may be moved to open position in any suitable manner as byswitch-opening springs 27, which springs encircle khorizontally movablerods 29 which are pivotally connected with said arms 28 and serveconstantly to urge said arms in a switch opening direction towards theleft,

`Fig. 1. The particular type ofswitch'here shown is similar to thatshown in theChester D. Ainsworth Patent No. 1,574,531, dated February23, 1926, which has a brush member that, when the switch is closed, isheld in forcible engagement with a cooperating contact member.

The operating mechanisms of the switches are mechanicallyinter-connected for conjoint operation by suitable means as relativelylong rods 30, which rods may be pivotally connected and supported by theupper arms of bell-crank levers 32. Insulators 3l may be interposed insaid rods whereby electrically to isolate the mechanisms. The lower armsof said bell-crank levers are pivotally connected through links 36 witharms 38 fixed to said operating shafts 2l: of the operating mechanisms.Since each switch is provided with its own closing mechanism, the rods30 serve mainly as a governingr mechanism to insure the simultaneousclosing and opening of the switches although, if one of the closingsolenoids fails to operate, power to close the switch associated withthat solenoid will be transmitted through said rods from the otherclosing solenoids.

In accordance with this invention, the closing and interconnectingmechanisms are provided with means whereby said rods B() may expand andcontract or otherwise alter in length without interfering with theproper functioningT of the switches; and said means includes thrusttoggles which are interposed between the switches` and theinterconnecting mechanism. Said arms 38 comprise members of t-he togglesand the cooperating toggle members comprise rods 40 which are pivoted tothe ends of said arms 3S at i2 and are also pivoted at all to the lowerends of the arms QS of the s vitches and are adjustable in lengthbetween their pivotal connections. Preferably the links 36 of theinterconnecting mechanism are pivoted to the common pivotal connection42 between said toggle members. Said arms 38 and 40 are preferablyrelatively long so that the pivotal connection 42 between the togglemembers may have a substantial amount of vertical movement withoutimparting any detrimental amount of movement to the arms 28 of theswitches. As thus arranged var' tions in length of said interconnectingrod 30 merely serve to move the toggles in a vertical direction withouteffecting an appreciable change of contact pressure between thestationary and movable current carrying components of the switches.

The toggles are preferably so arranged that they are normally offset ina switchopening direction from an on-center position or for upwardmovement from the switch-closed position illustrated in Fig. l.Excessive movement of the toggles in the opposite direction may beprevented by the engagement of the arms Q2 with the closing solenoidcasing.

The weight of the connecting rods 30 and associated interconnectingmechanism may serve to hold the switches closed, even though saidtoggles are biased for opening movement. Preferably, however, theswitches are held closed positively by means of a latch and trippingmechanism which preferably is disposed in the middle switchcompartn'ient and associated with the interconnecting switch mechanismtherein contained. The holding mechanism includes a latch 4G which ispivoted at its lower end to a bracket 18 and extends up\\f'ardlythereabove in a position rcleasably to engage some suitable part of thcmechanism, as a pivot pin 5() which connects the upper end of the link36 with the lower arm of the bell crank lever Said latch is heldyieldingly in the aforesaid relation by suitable means as the spring 52.The latch is so disposed that it permits movements of the mechanism dueto temperature changes and yet prevents a` positive and undesiredswitch-opening movement thereof. Said latch is adapted to be removedfrom locking relation with the interconnecting mechanism and switches bymeans including an opening solenoid The plunger 5G of said solenoid ispivotally connected with one arm of a bell crank lever 58 the upper arm(3() of which is connected through a link (3Q with the latch 46. W'hensaid solenoid is energized, the arm 60 of said bell crank lever' ismoved towards the right whereby to move said latch 46 toward the rightand thereby out of locking engagement with the link 36. Said solenoid 5ialso serves to move the switch and interconnecting mechanisms positivelyin the switch opening direction. To this end, said arm G0 is adapted toengage an abutment member (3i-.t carried by the intermediateinterconnecting rod 30 and move said rods in a switch-opening directionafter the mechanism has been released for movement.

Said arm 60 is free from positive connection with said intermediate rod30 whereby the switches may move to open position independently of theopening coil in its associated mechanism, after such movement has beeninitiated by the opening coil.

The structure may be otherwise modified without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. The combination of a plurality of re` motely disposed electricswitches, mechanism interconnecting said switches for conjoint operationhaving such a length between switches as to be detrimentally affected byexpansion and contraction, and means including switch-closing togglesinterposed in said interconnecting mechanism at each switch, whichtoggles are so arranged as to absorb the movement of said mechanism dueto temperature variations While maintaining the switches in their setcircuit-controlling condition.

2. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electricswitches, mechanism including relatively long rods interconnecting saidswitches and reci'procable along their lengths for conjoint operation ofsaid switches, said rods having such lengths between switches as to bedetrimentally affected by expansion and contraction, and means includingswitch-closing thrust toggles connecting said rods andkswitches arrangedto absorb the movement of said rods due to temperature variations whilemaintaining the switches in their set circuit-controlling condition.

3. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electricswitches, a separate electrically-actuated closing mechanism for eachswitch, and thermally-expansible mechanism mechanically inter-connectingsaid switches and said closing mechanisms including toggles connectedwith said interconnecting mechanism arranged to permit the movement ofthe switches into and hold them in completely closed position regardlessof minor variations in the length of said inter-connecting mechanism.

V4. The combination of a plurality of remotely-disposed electricswitches, means including a long rod inter-connecting said switches, andmeans including toggles in the connections between said rod and eachswitch arranged to provide for a substantial degree of movement of saidrod due to the thermal expansion and contraction thereof beyondcompletely switch-closed position of the toggles without effectivelymoving the switches from completely closedposition.

5. The combination of a plurality of remotely-disposed electric switcheshaving predetermined extents of movement between open and closedpositions, interconnecting mechanism including a long rod extendedbetween said switches and means including toggles connecting said rodand switches arranged to provide for a combined movement of said rod andswitches into the completely closed positions of said switches and for afurther movement of said rod and toggles alone without effectivelymoving said switches and while holding said switches closed.

6. The combination of a plurality ofy remotely disposed electricswitches, independent electrical closing mechanism for each switch,mechanism interconnecting said switches for conjoint operation, andtoggles interposed between said interconnecting mechanism and switches,said interconnecting mechanism arranged by its weight to hold saidtoggles in switch closed condition.

7. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electric switchesbiased for opening movement, operating thrust toggles connected at'oneend'to said switches yfor closing them and holding them closed, andinterconnecting mechanism extended between said switches and associatedwith and connected to the middle of said toggles and arranged by itsweight to hold vsaid toggles and switches in switch-closed position.

8. The combination of a plurality of 'remotely disposedy electricswitches, an electrically-actuated closing device for yeach switch,mechanism interconnecting sai-d switches arranged to operate themconjointly, means to hold said interconnecting mechanism inswitch-closed condition while permitting a restricted amount of movementof said mechanism, and means to release said holding means and thenceurge said switches positively in an opening direction.

' 9. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electricswitches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operatethem conjointly, means to hold said interconnecting mechanism in switchclosed condition while permitting a restricted amount of movement ofsaid mechanism, and means common to all switches to release said holdingmeans and thence ur e said interconnecting mechanism positive y in aswitch-opening direction.

` 10. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electricswitches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operatethem conjointly, means to hold said switches in closed condition whilepermitting a restricted amount of movement of said mechanism', and meanshaving a loose connection with said interconnecting mechanism arrangedto release said holding means and thence move saidl mechanism positivelyin a switch-opening direction. f

ll. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electricswitches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operatethem conjointly,means acting on said mechanism to hold said switches inclosed condition while permitting a restricted amount of movement ofsaid mechanism, and means to release said holding means and thence urgesaidswitches positively in an opening direction, said mechanism havinprovision' for movement in a switch-opening direction independently ofsaid urging means.

12. The combination of motely disposed electric switches, mechanisminterconnecting said switches arranged to operate them conjointly, meansincluding a latch arranged to hold said mechanism and switches inswitch-closed condition while permitting restrictedv movements of saidmechanism, and means including a solenoid arranged to release saidlatchand thence urge saidv interconnecting mechanism positively in aswitch-opening direction.

a plurality of re- 13. The combination of a plurality of electricswitches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to open andclose them conjoint-ly, means to hold said switches in closed condition,and means to release said holding means and also to urffe said switchespositively in an opening cirection.

1l. The combination of a plurality of electric switches, mechanisminterconnecting said switches arranged to operate them conjointly, meansto hold said switches in closed condition, means to release said holdingmeans, and means normally free from connection with said mechanismoperable upon release of said holding means to urge said switchespositively in an opening direction.

l5. rlhe combination of a plurality of remotely-disposed electricswitches each having an electrically-actuated closing mechanismassociated with it, means including thrust-toggles operativelyconnecting said closing mechanisms separately with said switches, andmechanism which interconnects said switches to insure simultaneousoperation thereof through their respective closing mechanisms includinglong rods which are extended between said switches and have connectionswith said toggles whereby to assure the simultaneous operation thereof,said rods adapted to expand and contract due to temperature variations,which expansion and contraction effects a substantial movement of thetoggle-joint,

- and said toggles each having at least one toggle-member which is solong that the aforesaid movement of the toggle-joint does not materiallychange the over-all length of the toggle and affect a change in thesetting of the switch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MORRIS B. VOOD.

